Newsletter: Friday 15th November 2024

The festive season is nearly here, and there’s a buzz in the air! With mid-November hosting a series of Christmas light switch-on events across the region, it’s time to get ready for all things merry and bright.

Whether you're on the hunt for that perfect Christmas party outfit, delightful gifts, or decorations, Yorkshire has everything you need to make this season magical.

If you're on a mission, you can find the big shops and big-name brands at Meadowhall in Sheffield and the Trinity in Leeds. For a more atmospheric experience, try the cobbled streets of York's photogenic shambles and the riverside highstreet in Yarm. Haworth and Hebden Bridge promise local arts and crafts.

For the ultimate Christmas shopping experience, try a Christmas market. It's a great way to find a unique present and soak up some seasonal cheer.

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Yorkshire's Winter Wonderland returns to York Designer Outlet With Festive Fun for All

York’s favourite festive event is back with lots of colourful surprises! Presented by HARIBO, Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland, with its glistening outdoor ice rink, thrilling funfair, magical Santa’s Grotto and cosy alpine cafe, opens at York Designer Outlet on Friday 15th November 2024, offering a fun-filled winter experience for all ages until Sunday 5th January 2025.

With a 30ft high Christmas tree sprinkled with Starmix sweets and topped with HARIBO’s Goldbear as its centrepiece, the ice rink is the largest in the North of England, and is surrounded by an illuminated woodland scene, the rink-side cafe and a viewing platform, creating the perfect festive setting.

The funfair has something for everyone – this year the Ghost House joins thrilling Waltzer and Twister rides, plus there’s the vintage Dodgems, four children’s rides and game stalls offering a prize every time.

Visitors can cosy up in The Chalet café with some winter-warming food and a drink from the licensed bar, or head to the outdoor terrace to watch all the thrills and spills of skating up close! And the new outdoor German Grill is sure to tickle the taste buds with the scent of sizzling sausages and mulled wine!

In the Enchanted Forest, Santa has a new team of helpers – meet Gertrude the Giraffe, Oliver the Ostrich, the Polar Bear Band and their colourful animal friends, then follow the glittering light tunnel to find Santa in his Grotto where a warm welcome and a special gift awaits.

For a festive retail experience our boutique Christmas market has 12 cabins offering gifts with a difference, while York Designer Outlet is the perfect place to tackle your Christmas shopping!

Tickets for a 45-minute skating session at Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland are priced at £14.95 for adults and £13.95 for children and concessions, with family and other packages available. For further details and to book visit https://www.yorkshireswinterwonderland.com.

Find Winter Wonderland on the socials

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Terms & conditions

Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland opens at 9.45am on Friday 15 November and closes on Sunday 5th January 2025. Tickets for a 45-minute skating session at Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland are priced at £14.95 for adults and £13.95 for children and concessions. Family packages are available for families of three, four or five. Tickets for parents and toddlers aged 4 and under are priced at £14.95 from Monday to Friday during term time. Special packages are also available for parties, schools, clubs and youth groups, with discounts applying to groups of 20 or more.

Booking is recommended for skating, especially at weekends and during the holidays, either through https://www.yorkshireswinterwonderland.com or directly at https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/theicefactor. Online booking fee applies. Tickets can also be purchased on site once the event opens, subject to availability. Penguin and Snowman skating aids can be hired on site for £5; pre-booking is not available.

Santa will be returning to his Grotto this year and reservations can be made either through http://www.yorkshireswinterwonderland.com or directly at http://www.bookfatherchristmas.co.uk/York. Tickets are priced at £6 per child (including gift) with a £1.50 family booking fee. A reservation is required to visit Santa but can be made on the day, subject to availability.

Grotto Opening times are:

• Weekdays, 15 & 22 November: 11am – 5pm; 25 November to 6 December: 11am – 5pm, 9 December to 20 December: 9.30am – 5pm.
• Weekends, 16 November to 22 December: Saturdays: 9.30am – 6pm & Sundays 9.30am – 5pm
• 23 December 10am – 6pm
• Christmas Eve: 10am – 3.00pm

Tokens for the funfair can be purchased on-site. For full details of prices and times visit http://www.yorkshireswinterwonderland.com

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Concerts and gigs coming up in Yorkshire

Check out these concerts, perfromances and festivities taking place in Yorkshire over the coming week:

• Yorkshire’s Winter Wonderland in York, November 15th 2024 - January 5th, 2025
• Spectacular Christmas Circus at Meadowhall from November 7th, 2024 5:00pm to December 24th, 2024
• The Wailers at Leadmill, Sheffield on November 16th, 2024 7:30pm
• Thank You for the Music at Sheffield City Hall Oval Hall on November 17th, 2024 7:30pm
• Shed Seven at Victoria Theatre, Halifax on November 18th, 2024 7:30pm
• Within Temptation at First Direct Arena in Leeds on November 19th, 2024 6:00pm
• Porridge Radio at Leeds Irish Centre, Leeds in Leeds on November 20th, 2024 7:30pm
• Mo Gilligan: In The Moment World Tour at St Georges Hall in Bradford on November 21st, 2024 8:00pm
• Newton Faulkner at Sheffield University on November 22nd, 2024 7:00pm
• 2024 Snooker UK Championship at York Barbican on November 23rd, 2024 7:00pm
• Defying Gravity – West End Women at Sheffield City Hall Oval Hall on November 24th, 2024 7:30pm

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Yorkshire news round-up

York's 2024 Nutcracker Trail, designed by local artist MarcoLooks and organized by York BID, celebrates global cultures with ten handcrafted, Braille-accessible Nutcrackers. Start the trail at the visitor centre on Parliament Street in York from 14th November.

Yorkshire composer Gavin Bryars has received the Innovation Award at the 2024 Ivors Classical Awards, celebrating his influential career in minimalism and experimental music.

Bradford City AFC's first Community Takeover Day on November 23 at the University of Bradford Stadium celebrates the impact of the Bradford City Community Foundation.

Hull's Museums Quarter will transform into a Victorian winter wonderland on November 23-24, featuring live music, street performances, traditional rides, festive crafts, and holiday treats.

Bradford’s Alhambra Theatre welcomes the hit musical Hairspray from 25-30 November, directed by Brenda Edwards and featuring choreography by Drew McOnie, promising a lively celebration of iconic 60s tunes for an unforgettable night out!

Explore Sheffield's museums and galleries this December for festive exhibits and events, with adjusted holiday hours at spots like Graves Gallery, Kelham Island Museum, and Weston Park Museum.

The Harrogate International Sunday Series 2025 features five Sunday morning concerts from January to April at the Old Swan Hotel, showcasing a lineup of exceptional young musicians—including pianist Junyan Chen, violinist Leia Zhu, and the Fibonacci Quartet.

Get ready, Sheffield! Britain’s Strongest Man returns to Utilita Arena on 1 February 2025, kicking off the Giants Live World’s Strongest Man Arena Tour with top athletes, thrilling strength events, and an electric atmosphere—experience it live or tune in on Channel 5!

Sport news

Kieran Buchanan has signed a two-year contract with York RLFC starting in 2025. The club has also signed promising 23-year-old outside back Jude Ferreira for the 2025 season, bringing energy, skill, and a strong try-scoring record from Hunslet Hawks, with hopes of bolstering the backline and competing for a centre spot under coach Mark Applegarth's guidance.

York City FC legend Clayton Donaldson, now Head of Development, will lead a new development team to nurture young talent and create a pathway to the first team, marking an exciting chapter for the club's future.

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